The stretch of Queen Street West from Yonge Street to Bathurst Street features both some of the city’s biggest retailers and most important civic structures.
For this then-and-now photo tour, which lines up historic images from the Toronto Public Library and City of Toronto’s archives with BuzzBuzzNews photographer James Bombales’ present-day shots, we’ve documented how this strip has developed since the early 20th century.
See what a Hogtown before Nathan Phillips Square and without the CF Toronto Eaton Centre looked like below.
Queen Street West, looking east from Chestnut Street, 1955
Historic photo: Toronto Public Library
Manning Chambers, Queen Street West at Bay Street, 1955
Historic photo: City of Toronto
Queen Street West at Yonge Street, 1983
Historic photo: City of Toronto
Queen Street West, looking w. across Elizabeth Street, 1955
Historic photo: Toronto Public Library
Queen Street West at Victoria Street, looking east, 1971
Historic photo: City of Toronto
Queen Street West and York Street, 1913
Historic photo: Toronto Public Library
Fire Hall Queen Street West and John Street, 1954
Historic photo: Toronto Public Library
Queen Street West and Spadina Avenue, Late 1990s
Historic photo: City of Toronto
Queen Street West west of Spadina, 1983
Historic photo: City of Toronto
Queen Street West and Bathurst Street, 1928
Historic photo: City of Toronto